"Colonel O'Neill is telling the truth. Your world would be an easy target for the Goa'uld System Lords." Teal'c began not wanting another planet to fall prey to his former masters. "They are capable of traveling through space so taking any protective action against the Stargate might not be sufficient enough deterrent to the Goa'uld. They would not be happy until all your people kneel before them and worship them as gods Those who didn't believe would be the first to be enslaved to the Goa'uld."
"How would you suggest we prepare ourselves if these Goa'uld are as deadly as you say they are. We're farmers and don't understand the workings of this Stargate." Qui-Gon asked the Colonel refilling his glass.
"That would be something for your elders to decide. Handling a threat as great as the Goa'uld is something they should know about." Sam said.
"Yeah what she said." Jack agreed, "Our people can help you. If it's needed. We know weak points in their technology and what works best to exploit them."
Qui-Gon thought for a moment before speaking. "Then if you would excuse us I need to speak to Obi-Wan alone. We will be out by the barn if you should need us. Our discussion might take a while."
"We must contact Master Yoda." Qui-Gon said as the reached the rear of the barn.
"How Master? The solar activity of Drel Omega is preventing all communications with Coruscant."
"Via my training bond with Master Yoda. I would have shown you how to do this when you were Knighted." Qui-Gon fondled the small braid that marked Obi-Wan's status. Acknowledging his mixed feelings about that milestone. "My last gift to you, a way to contact me if the need was ever great enough."
Obi-Wan stared wide-eyed at his master, "Last gift Master? You make my knighting sound like a funeral for yourself."
"Oh my Padawan." A sad remorseful look appeared in Qui-Gon's expression, his hand still stroking the braid that decorated Obi-Wan. On others that Padawan braid was something to grow accustomed to, not Obi-Wan though, he wore it as naturally as he moved, Qui-Gon thought before saying. "The day you finally achieve your life's work a small part of myself will morn the youngster I finally accepted as my Padawan. You are becoming a fine young man and will be a great Jedi."
"You were so detached after you accepted me as your Padawan. I began to wonder if you really wanted me as your student or if for some reason Master Yoda blackmailed you in to taking me on. Look how long it took to complete the training bond. I was sure something was wrong with me and you would return me to Agri-Corps." Obi-Wan confessed his feelings from after the mine incident on Bandomeer and the missions they had immediately afterward.
Qui-Gon smiled, "It wasn't ever about you, Obi-Wan. You showed me that you were more than worthy in your own right when you were ready to sacrifice yourself for Bandomeer. Back in those first weeks I felt like I was being lead around. I believe that it was the Force that put us together. Did you know that 12 other masters and knights would have been at the Temple but an outbreak of violence throughout five systems caused them to be sent there instead."
"Maybe the force chose you to train me because you needed to learn to trust your instincts again." Obi-Wan looked at the hand that was winding his braid in and out of its nimble fingers. "I had a dream many years ago Master, that I should have told you about but couldn't. Now I think I need to."
Qui-Gon sensed Obi-Wan's turmoil, "You don't have to tell me if it troubles you."
"Master Yoda said I would know when it was time to tell you this. I saw two paths to the future. One I am a Padawan and after my trials my Master, since I never saw who it was I didn't know it was you, took another Padawan one that needed him much more than I ever did. With hardships he is trained to be a very good Jedi. The other path I was never trained and this child turns to the Dark Side and all but eradicates the Order."
"Obi-Wan when did you have this vision? How could you have been certain that it wasn't just anxiety about not being selected as a Padawan?"
"I was seven. Master Yoda had examined the vision and said it was a possible path but the rest was too clouded to see. I never understood why having me as a Padawan would make the difference. Sometimes I have felt that the whole fate of the Order rests on how good a Padawan I am. I feel that now but for a different reason."
"It's your heart Obi-Wan. Your caring and trust has changed a distant, rule bending, grieving Jedi into a more friendlily, rule bending Jedi. I still blame myself for Xanatos but I know that it doesn't mean I was lacking as a master, just blinded to Xanatos' true nature." Qui-Gon released the braid, "Now I think we should contact Yoda. You will need to gather in as much force energy as you can and then link with me. It is important that you don't use all of your energy to do this. We cannot appear too weak in front of our guests. This will be draining to us because of the distance involved." Qui-Gon covered his padawan's hand's with his larger ones in order to make the link easier.
The force quickly built up between the two Jedi once Qui-Gon sensed the energy reaching it's peak he called out to his former Master, "Master." He used the Force to augment his call.
"Qui-Gon, what is wrong?" The thought-speech of Yoda answered.
"My master we have discovered the true nature of the great ring. It is a transportation device, four travelers came through today. They claim they are peaceful explorers, but there is an enemy out there that would subjugate all they came across. Our visitors have run afoul of them before and want to meet with our elders to discuss how we might protect ourselves. They believe we are simple farmers." Qui-Gon reported quickly, feeling his and his Padawan's energy starting to fade.
"Watch them you must. To the council I will speak. Mace Windu and myself will come to you. Dre'lantha plans she can make for defense of the temple."
"Tell Dre'lantha that before travelers come through the ring the chevrons will light up and then everything from my Padawan's vision will happen."
"Rest my Padawan be there soon I will. Keep from your visitors your Jedi status for as long as you can." Yoda ended the link and slowly the two Jedi sank to the ground trying to regain their strength.
"Master, how do we convince our guests to stay for the time it will take Masters Windu and Yoda to get here. If they left right now it would take at least 3 days to get here 5 days if Drel Omega is still acting up if not more." Obi-Wan asked wearily resting his head on Qui-Gon's shoulder.
"We could offer to show them around. They seemed interested in the medical plants, and we could lead them to believe that we might be willing to take them to our capital city. I too tired to think of much more and a simple plan should work better anyway." Qui-Gon thought aloud.
"Yes, they believe that we don't have any advance type of transport, they believe we are planet bound." Obi-Wan said, "how will we practice our drills if they stay. Master Yoda did say not to reveal our true identity unless we have to."
"We will manage, Padawan. Let's go back to the cabin."
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